Why Arsenal can afford to lose both Nasri and Fabregas

Arsenal supporters are spending sleepless nights over the future of both their star midfielders Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. Nasri has been linked with a move away from the Emirates to both the Manchester clubs and Fabregas is of course the target for Barcelona to bring him back to where he “supposedly belongs”.

Cesc Fabregas

Losing both the players at the same time would hypothetically be believed to create gaping holes in the squad with the team losing both their creative midfielders at the same time. Fabregas has not only been the player Arsenal turns to at the time of crisis but also is seen as a leader to motivate the young troops. Nasri meanwhile is an extraordinary talent and his quick feets and skills and ability to slip in killer passes and chip in goals at important time has made him one of the most valued players of Europe.

However both the players love to play in the same role, i.e. behind the main striker in Arsenal’s favored 4-2-3-1 formation. When both of them have played together Arsene Wenger had used Nasri in the wings giving the Captain a free role in the centre of midfield. This has limited the frenchman’s impact in games with him hardly contributing anything significant in the Gunners’ games after the winter period. Meanwhile during this time Jack Wilshere as emerged as the “silent leader” in the Arsenal midfield. In the Champions league Round of 16 matchdays against Barcelona- it was young Jack who took the fight to the Catalans’ Midfield Maestros with his more illustrious team-mates hardly making any telling effect over 180 minutes.

Fabregas is reportedly homesick and his French team-mate believes trophies can’t be won by staying at Emirates. Last year Arsenal saw a half-fit, half-interested Fabregas backheel a ball into Andres Iniesta’s path en-route Barcelona’s opening goal at the Nou Camp. When fit and flowing Cesc can turn matches in it’s head as he did against Villa at Emirates in 2010 coming off the bench to score a brace. Nasri on the other hand has only 1 year left in his contract and Wenger would prefer him to leave now rather than in the Winter Transfer Window when his valuation would go down even more. The duo together could give Arsenal a total of $65 million if sold in the summer which could be used to cover other flaws in the Arsenal squad.

Arsenal needs a left back now with Gael Clichy having left for Eastlands and also should go on to sign either Chris Samba or Gary Cahill or perhaps even both to solidify their centre half weakness. Arsenal fans’ are desperately looking for a new goalkeeper. If they have the money they could go for the likes of Gordon and Stekelenberg and the payment received for their two midfielders could come in handy.

Some fans might wander what could happen to their attacking midfield position if Nasri and Fabregas indeed leaves but there is one player who looks to be prepared to take on the responsibility-Aaron Ramsey, the Welshman having recovered from his broken leg showed glimpses of his form at the fag end of last season, including scoring a winner against Manchester United, where he was deputizing for the injured Fabregas. And there is always Robin Van Persie, the Dutch international has often played the no 10 role for his national team, only recently in a friendly against Uruguay against June.

Whatever be the attacking players, Arsenal will never ever have a problem in putting the ball in the back of the net..Their problems have always lied in stopping it from happening at their end. Arsene Wenger will be better served in constructing a solid defensive team rather than holding onto players whose heart belongs somewhere else..